Chris Hughton has expressed concern at the views of Sepp Blatter on racism in football and his solutions on how to solve it.

By Soriebah Kajue

Chris Hughton has expressed concern at the views of FIFA president Sepp Blatter on racism in football and his solutions on how to solve it.

Hughton is one of only two black managers currently working in the British game along with Chris Powell at Charlton.

The Birmingham manager, who was appointed to the management committee of the League Managers' Association on Thursday, believes Blatter's views are unacceptable.

Blatter's comments from a television interview in which he stated racial abuse should be resolved with a handshake have seen him criticised from numerous quarters within the game.

Unacceptable

"For me the massive concern is that one person who heads the world's governing body firstly is allowed to make the comments that he made, and secondly has made the comments that he's made," said Hughton.

"They are totally unacceptable and I think most of the comments (about what Blatter said) I've heard very much agree with that."

During the 1970s and 80s the issue of racism in football was a major problem in this country, but campaigns such as 'Kick It Out' and 'Show Racism the Red Card' have made a tremendous difference.

"For the top person in world football to make the comments that he has done is totally unacceptable. It can't be dealt with a handshake because it is unacceptable," added Hughton.

Untouchable

This comment is just the latest in a long line of gaffes by the ageing head of football that has had to apologise for previous comments on homosexuals and women in football.

He continued: "What does concern me is that you have the head of our (world governing) organisation who has probably had over the last however many years made comments and had to perhaps make apologies on four, five, or six occasions.

"Of course, he almost seems untouchable. So I think that is a big concern for me, that someone in such a massively important position is able to (make such comments) and with almost no recourse."